Combination plaster base and insulating block



July 15, 1941. J. B. WILLIAMSON 2,249,073 COMBINATION PLASTER BASE :ANDINSULATING BLOCK etsfs et l (Maw;

ATTORNEY.

2 She INVENTOR. /Z Z /4/1/$0A/ VA/ a a 7. /2oO3/, d l Y 7 n, F i m 5 m 54 4 .77

2 w H 2 P 2 y 1941. B. WILLIAMSON 2,249,073

COMBINATION PLASTER BASE AND INSULATING BLOCK Filed Dec.7, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 15, 1941 COMBINATION PLASTER BASE AND INSULATING BLOCKJohn B. Williamson, Cranford, N. J., assignor to American Cyanamid &Chemical Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication December "z, 1938, Serial No. 244,386

2 Claims. The present invention relates to a combined plaster base andinsulating block and its use in building constructions. It is commonpractice, particularly in residential construction, to build walls withvertical spaced apart studs, to one side of which the outside finish isapplied, such as sheathing, clapboard, shingles, stucco, etc., withmetal or wood lath applied to the opposite edges of the studs for thepurpose of carrying plaster. One of the objections to such constructionis that the thickness of the plaster carried by the lath is so thin asto have no effective insulationvalue, makingv necessary the use ofadditional insulating units where effective barriers against the passageof heat are desired.

Another objection to such usual construction resides in the fact thatback of the lath and plaster andbetween it and the outside finish, suchas sheathing, there is an air space extending from top to bottom of suchwalls and defined on the sides by the sides of the studs. This space isusually so large as to induce convection currents therein which makesfor air leakage while at the same time, in case of fire, this spacecreates a considerable draft, all of which is detrimental.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a singleunit which may be inserted between studs which will serve at one and thesame time as an insulating unit, a plaster base and a fire stop.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of such unitswhich may be factory cast and of a material that can be easily cut andsawed on the job and, consequently, fitted to the particularcircumstance at hand.

The herein described combined plaster base and insulating block eitherused as a fire stop or not, as the case may be, is equally applicable tobe set in between the joists of roofs and ceilings as well as walls.

To this end, the invention contemplates a factory made unit of anysuitable material such as fibre, gypsum, mica pellets, Portland cementcompositions, etc., with or without admixtures and preferably of aporous nature in order to enhance jection, so that at the edge of theunit, its thickness is greater than at the center. The invention alsocontemplates an interlock between units so that one maybe readilypositioned with respect to the other to form a substantially tight jointtherebetween without the interposition of grout, plaster or othersealing means.

In building constructions involving such units, the inventioncontemplates means to provide a bridge across the studs or joists andfor securing such units in place between the studs or joists such as byclips or the like fastened to the stud and extending over one face ofthe unit.

The invention further contemplates the arrangement, combination andconstruction 'of parts more fully hereinafter described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of abuilding construction showing the unit applied in a wall;

Fig. 2 is a section view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through a floor showing the units usedas a plaster base for a ceiling.

Referring now with particularity to Fig. 3, the unit is shown to consistof a slab or block I, of gypsum, concrete or other of theabove-mentioned materials which may be factory cast with or withoutadmixtures of wood chips, cinders, expanded vermiculite, or othersubstances used to lighten or increase porosity. Such a unit may beprovided with a series of core holes 2 extending laterally therethrough.As shown, the block is dished on one face by reason of a projecting edgeor rim 3 on its longer dimension and a similar rim l on its shorterdimension, thus forming a cavity 5 therebetween.

With reference to Fig. l,'wall studs are shown at B spaced at the usualintervals of 16 inches which, of course, may be varied to fit theciroumstances. Outside finish I is applied to the studs in the usualmanner. The cast units are shown at l of a width substantially occupyingthe space between studs with sufllcient clearance to take care of anyirregularities in either manufacture of the units or unevenness in thestuds. The overall depth or thickness of the units at their edges shouldbe in this case slightly greater than the depth of the joists.

As shown, the edge or rim 4 of the units closely abuts the outsidefinish I so that the cavity 5 defined by the edge or rim 4 forms a deadair space which has definite insulation value. At the same time, thecore holes 2 extending laterally through the block constitute a seriesof dead air spaces within the unit itself.

As each unit is laid between the studs from the floor up, it is securedto the stud by means of a strip or clip 8 fastened as at l to the studand fectively holds them in place without the inter position of grout,mortar or cement.

After the units are in place, one or. more coats of plaster [2 may beapplied thereto directly over the face of the slabs and the jointsbetween them including the face of the studs.

As applied to floors or roofs, the joists thereof are shown in Fig. 4 atIt. The units I may be applied thereto in a similar manner as describedforwalls or, where desired, the clips 8 may be first put in place on theunder or inner faces of the joists and the units I dropped down betweenthe ,joists from the top before the floor or roof material I4 isapplied. Under these circumstanoes, the units rest upon and are held inposition by the clips 8. Where desired and in the case of a ceiling, oneor more coats of plaster l2 may be applied as above described.

From the above it will be seen thata unit has been provided which may bereadily and cheaply manufactured in quantity and which may at one andthe same time serve as an insulating unit, plaster base and a fire stop,and which eliminates individual fitting to a great extent.

The insulation value of a construction embodying these units may beenhanced, if desired, by applying to the surface of the cavity, a sheetI! of some heat reflecting material such as metal foil, while at thesame time such surface is substantially waterproofed. In like manner,as-

phaltic compositions may be applied so as to with an outside finishmaterial secured to the studs or joists, the units contacting with saidoutside material at the unit periphery, with a dead air space betweenthe unit and the finish materiaL.

2. A. building construction including spaced apart studs or joists,units secured therebetween including precast units ofinsulatingmaterial,

said units being tongued and grooved together with an outside finishmaterial secured to the studs or joists, the units contacting with saidoutside material at the unit periphery, with a dead air space betweenthe unit and the finish material and with heat reflecting metal foilsecured to the surface of the unit defining the dead air space.

' JOHN B. WILLIAMSON.

